Talk:Golgi tendon organ

Physiology Mid‑importance

	This article is within the scope of WikiProject Physiology, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Physiology on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PhysiologyWikipedia:WikiProject PhysiologyTemplate:WikiProject PhysiologyPhysiology articles
Mid	This article has been rated as Mid-importance on the importance scale.
	This article has been classified as relating to the physiology of the brain, nerves and nervous system.

Anatomy: Neuroanatomy Mid‑importance

	This article is within the scope of WikiProject Anatomy, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Anatomy on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.AnatomyWikipedia:WikiProject AnatomyTemplate:WikiProject AnatomyAnatomy articles
Mid	This article has been rated as Mid-importance on the project's importance scale.
	This article has been classified as relating to neuroanatomy.

Neuroscience Mid‑importance

	This article is within the scope of WikiProject Neuroscience, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Neuroscience on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.NeuroscienceWikipedia:WikiProject NeuroscienceTemplate:WikiProject Neuroscienceneuroscience articles
Mid	This article has been rated as Mid-importance on the project's importance scale.

Untitled

What is the new clasp-knife response theory mentioned in the history section? It should also be included in clasp-knife response article and if somebody has more information about this theory I would love to hear it.--C39 17:39, 13 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The clasp-knife response is where a spastic muscle resists motion until a certain point where it suddenly stops resisting, similar to opening and closing a pocket knife where at a certain point it snaps open or closed. This is due to the fact that an upper motor neuron injury causes spastic paralysis. However, the lower motor neuron is still in tact and can still participate in normal reflexes. So when a spastic muscle is stretched, the golgi tendon organ is activated, eventually it will inhibit the lower motor neuron and it will suddenly relax and you lose the resistance. 140.220.1.66 (talk) 23:53, 31 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]

so.. that should be deleted then according to you? I mean I dont feel like doing a lit search right now to find the truth but as of fall 2009 the story in a medical school neuro class was that it was due to "loss of inhibition of interneurons relaying type II, III, and IV afferent signals." Golgi tendon organ is innervated by type Ib and signals tension, type II signals slow stretch (nuclear chain intrafusal fibers) and deep pressure (free nerve endings), types III and IV have free nerve ending receptors and signal pain, chemical, and temperature info. The instructor didnt go into more detail than that, but based on that my guess is the reflex is normally triggered by hypoxia/overheating (due to using up the available oxygen reserves plus high CO2/lactic acid production lowering blood pH and excessive exothermic ATP hydrolysis, respectively) plus local buildup of blood pressure since the prolongedly contracted muscle is pressing on whatever venules are around and preventing drainage. In the case of upper motor neuron lesion this spinal reflex will be less inhibited in the same way the golgi tendon neurons would be(UPMs have collaterals to inhibitory interneurons which, when activated, will inhibit the interneurons responsible for conveying the reflex). Repapetilto (talk) 01:12, 4 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]